Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
Ever seen a bright blue Tesla whipping around in New York City? Revel, which started as an electric moped rental service, has since expanded to offering rideshares and is a solid alternative to Uber, Lyft, or even yellow cabs.
The company differentiates itself by using all-electric Teslas and hiring its drivers as Revel employees — rather than using independent contractors. Best of all, Revel offers lower fares that undercut its competitors. You can often find a great deal when catching a ride to (or from) New York’s 3 airports.
Previously on a waitlist-only basis, anyone in New York City can now download the Revel app, sign up, and request a rideshare, as confirmed by a media spokesperson for the company.
Sound too good to be true? Whether you’re a New Yorker or are traveling to the Big Apple anytime soon, here’s everything you should know about Revel!
Headquartered in Brooklyn, Revel offers electric moped vehicles for rent in New York City and San Francisco. However, Revel’s Tesla rideshare services are only available in all of New York City and parts of New Jersey at this time.
Revel has expanded its operating zones recently and now serves all 3 of the greater New York City area airports: LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey.
It’s important to know that all pick-ups and drop-offs must occur in the operating zones shown above. Plus, Revel only supports rides between New Jersey and New York City, but not for rides within New Jersey.
While living in New York, Revel has become one of my favorite rideshare services — particularly when I’m headed to the airport. But when I’m in a rush, Revel isn’t always the most reliable. Here are the 6 things to know before ordering a Revel.
Every single Revel car is an all-electric blue Tesla Model Y or Model 3, making them easy to find and quite comfortable. Not only are the cars nice and new, but you can fit up to 4 passengers in a Revel car (3 in the back, 1 in the front), and enjoy heated seats and a glass roof. Plus, Revel promises to clean and detail its cars every 24 hours.
Service animals are allowed, but Revel does not allow pets. Finally, if you’ve got infants or young children, you must bring your own car seat.
Revel uses a fare algorithm that factors in the current traffic conditions, total distance, and any city-mandated fees to offer pricing on a demand basis in the app. However, the price excludes additional tolls or airport pick-up and drop-off fees, which New York-area airports are notoriously prone to.
If you want the exact breakdown, Revel charges:
You’ll be charged a $5 cancellation fee if you cancel after 3 minutes of calling the ride or a $5 no-show fee if you do not arrive at your pick-up within 5 minutes.
That said, Revel rides are often much more reasonable compared to its competitors — and much more transparent. Compare that to the long list of fees for Uber, which doesn’t disclose the exact amount for the booking fees, service fees, tolls and surcharges, and more. On top of all that, surge pricing applies during especially high-demand periods!
Below, we’ve compared a few rides that Revel offers at the time of writing (a Friday afternoon — admittedly a congested period to call any rideshare service):
| Uber | Lyft | Revel | |
| West Village to Midtown | $30.91 | $31.99 | $28.03 |
| West Village to Williamsburg | $28.99 | $27.91 | $22.39 |
| West Village to Newark (EWR) | $85.90 | $80.99 | $75.61 |
| West Village to LaGuardia (LGA) | $52.92 | $48.99 | $46.48 |
| West Village to John F. Kennedy (JFK) | $101.92 | $97.99 | $85.61 |
Most times, but certainly not in all cases, Revel offers the lowest prices. A few weeks ago, I was headed to John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) at 5:30 a.m. While I try to take public transportation when I can, I always take a rideshare when it’s that early. My Revel ride was priced out to be “just” $60, which felt like pre-pandemic prices to me. Meanwhile, Lyft and Uber were charging almost $100.
However, Revel isn’t perfect in all cases.
Revel has just announced that it is now operating services 24/7.
However, wait times can be longer than Uber or Lyft, as Revel’s services aren’t as robust. But in my experience, I’ve never had to wait for more than 10 to 15 minutes for a car. I’ll always compare prices across all 3 apps before making my ultimate decision, but the cost savings are usually worth the wait if I’m not in an immediate rush to be somewhere.
Hot Tip:Be sure to call your Revel ride when you’re just about to disembark from the plane. Airport rides in New York City usually take longer due to traffic, and I’ve always timed it wonderfully — and with a few minutes to spare from curbside pickup.
Revel doesn’t offer the ability to schedule your ride or add multiple stops like you can with Uber or Lyft. Furthermore, there’s no option to share the ride with your friends or family, which is a great safety feature that comes with other apps.
Hopefully, these updates will come to Revel soon!
As Revel is still in its growth phase, it’s offering a lucrative referral program to invite your friends to try out the app and ride at a discount.
Your friends will receive $20 toward their first ride, and you’ll get a $20 credit after they ride. You can enter the promo code under the Redeem promo code tab in the app’s menu after you sign up.
Revel will oftentimes send great coupons that can help save even more on my rides. I notice that I’ll get targeted for discounts if I haven’t used Revel in a few weeks.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts in your email or turn push notifications on with your Revel app. The discounts will apply automatically to the price of your next rides.
You’ll want to pay with a credit card that earns bonus rewards on rideshare services. Unlike Uber or Lyft, which maintains various partnerships with credit card companies (including American Express and Chase), or travel loyalty programs (including Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy) to offer bonus points, Revel flies solo for now.
The good news is that Revel codes as a travel merchant on your statement credit, so several cards are good contenders to maximize your purchase.
Chase’s travel bonus category for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is broad. It encompasses everything from airlines to hotels to rideshare services (including Revel) to toll and parking fees.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on all Revel rides.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 2x points per dollar spent on travel, including Revel.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Furthermore, any of Capital One’s travel rewards cards are great options for earning bonus miles on everyday purchases like Revel. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 2x Capital One miles per dollar spent on all purchases, including Revel rideshares. Meanwhile, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns 1.25x Capital One miles per dollar spent on all purchases.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesGet 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
As a frequent traveler with excellent credit, you’re always on the lookout for a credit card that comes with all the bells and whistles. And the easier it is to understand, the better!
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great sign-up bonus, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
You can redeem your Capital One miles as a statement credit toward travel purchases made within 90 days at 1 cent per mile. If you want to offset the cost of your Revel rides, you can redeem 2,500 miles for a $25 ride, 5,000 miles for a $50 ride, and so forth.
Revel is a fantastic alternative to shake up the competition in New York City, where it feels like it can cost you an arm and a leg just to ride down a few blocks. Besides lower prices, an all-electric fleet also means lower carbon emissions. Hopefully, the service will continue to grow to improve wait times or move into new U.S. cities.
Oftentimes, Revel can be cheaper than both Uber and Lyft. However, this will depend on many factors, including the current traffic conditions and trip duration. Your best bet is to price out your ride across all 3 apps to see which is the cheapest!
Yes, Revel offers rideshare services and electric mopeds for rent. Headquartered in Brooklyn, Revel offers rides to and from EWR, LGA, and JFK in New York City and parts of New Jersey.
Revel will show you ride times based on the closest drivers to you. But as Revel’s services aren’t as expansive as Uber or Lyft, it can sometimes take 10 to 15 minutes to get a ride.
While there was a previously a waitlist to call a Revel rideshare, anyone can download the app now and get started.
Was this page helpful?
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...
Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.
We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.
